Illinois school districts adapt to new cyberbullying law

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Illinois school districts adapt to new cyberbullying law

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois school districts have been working to update policies after a new state law on cyberbullying took effect in January.

The News-Gazette reports the law broadened school districts’ authority to address cases of cyberbullying. Districts can now step in when they find a student bullying another online, even if it happens off of school grounds or without the use of school property.

Urbana Superintendent Don Owen says the district can now take disciplinary action in cases they previously couldn’t. He says the district is looking to add a system to allow bullying reports to made online, similar to ones at Tuscola and St. Joseph-Ogden high schools.

Owen says the Urbana district’s teachers will get more instruction about Internet usage.